EACH WEEK, WE highlight five apps that are worth downloading for your smartphone and tablet. There are a lot of apps released on a daily basis, but not all of them are worth paying attention to.
This week includes a way to reminisce about past posts, a polished and isometric adventure game and a different way to learn a new language.
Lingua.ly
For: Android
Cost: Free
- Lingua.ly is designed to help you learn languages improve your vocabulary
- In its most basic form, it allows you to look up words to find out what they mean, and give then images to help you remember them.
- You can also read articles in the language you’re learning, which are curated for your interests and level of comprehension so you get the most out of them.
- It covers 17 languages and creates personalised content for five: English, French, Spanish, Hebrew and Arabic.
- Best used as to accompany a learning app like Duolingo, or use it on its own if you have a basic grasp of a language.
Machinarium
For: iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Cost: €4.49 for iOS & WP, €5 for Android.
- Yes, yes Machinarium has already been out on iOS and Android for a bit, but it’s finally made its way to Windows Phone so now’s a good an excuse as any to highlight it.
- A point-and-click game, which has found a nice home on smartphones and tablets, the art style is crisp and mirrors the steampunk robot city setting.
- There’s no dialogue in Machinarium, only movement, sound, thoughts and expression moves the plot forward.
- The puzzles are real head-scratchers, although the chances of you being stuck will be down to missing an item instead of the puzzles themselves.
- A wonderful little adventure game that you should download.
Monument Valley
For: iOS (Android release arriving soon)
Cost: €3.59
- Anyone aware of the hit indie game Fez will immediately love Monument Valley, although it’s so much more than that.
- You control a princess who makes her way through a world which you must twist and drag to reshape the world and avoid the crow people (It makes sense in context, ok?).
- It’s both visually accomplished and it never feels laboured or frustrating. There are 3D puzzles to solve but they’re designed in an intelligent and logical manner where even the challenging ones are a joy to solve.
- It’s rare to see such an accomplished game make its way solely to mobile devices. Monument Valley could have been released on console or Steam and it would be getting the same rave reviews it’s already has.
- Best played with an iPad. The larger a screen you have, the better.
You-Doo
For: Windows Phone
Cost: Free
- You-Doo is a to-do list and task scheduler which takes location into account.
- When you’re setting your reminders, you can add a location to it so your reminder will trigger when you reach your destination. The maps integrate with Bing Maps and Foursquare allowing you to get the most out of it.
- On top of that, you can set the usual reminders for times, days and manage them through a specialised calendar.
- Live tiles integration helps by displaying individual tasks and a live timeline.
- The developers have a pro version in the works which will include cloud saving and device syncing among other things.
Timehop
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
- If you’re an Android user and someone who loves reminiscing about moments gone by, have we got an app for you.
- Logging in through your Facebook account, Timehop brings up old photos and posts from your iPhone, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Foursquare accounts.
- Every day it throws up posts from a year, two years or three years ago
- Just to mention, how much you get out of it really depends on how often you’ve posted on these sites. It’s likely you need to connect more than one account to it if you want something new every day.
- If nothing else, it’s entertaining and saves you the trouble of having to browse through your old posts if you’re in need of reminiscing.
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